We have our work cut out for us in the coming years. The threats to critical affordable and supportive housing programs that serve the poorest households and those with disabilities are real and significant. Become involved in planning the 2018 Congressional Reception!

NJCounts 2019

All twenty-one New Jersey Counties will be counting individuals and families who were homeless – both sheltered and un-sheltered - on the night of Wednesday January 23, 2019.This annual census is conducted by networks of organizations, agencies and others that plan community efforts to end homelessness and is coordinated by Monarch Housing on the statewide level.

The goal of the second Annual Homeless Sabbath is to engage as many congregations of all faiths to include readings in their service(s) held on December 15th, 16th and 17th, 2017, at their respective house of worship. Click here to register online to participate.

“No-Excuse” Absentee Voting by Mail Option in NJ

Help Ensure Low-Income Tenants, Clients, and Neighbors “Get to the Polls” with by Absentee Voting

Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2018 is right around the corner. And now that the deadline to register to vote in the November election in NJ has passed, now is the time to think about our voting plans and absentee voting is an option in NJ.

Many of us already have our voting plans set, but low-income people face many challenges in getting to the polls to vote, including:

New Jersey offers “no-excuse” absentee by mail ballots. Although New Jersey does not have Early Voting in the traditional sense, within a certain period of time before an election the state allows a voter to apply in person for an absentee ballot (without an excuse) and cast that ballot in one trip to an election official’s office. This is often known as “in-person absentee” voting.

“No-excuse” absentee voting, allowing any registered voter to request an absentee without requiring that the voter state a reason for his/her desire to vote absentee.

A voter wanting a “no-excuse” absentee ballot to vote by mail may vote by mail by completing the Application for Vote by Mail Ballot and returning the application to their County Clerk.

To receive your ballot by mail, the application must be received by the County Clerk 7 days prior to the election.

Absentee ballots can be requested by residents who are unable to get to the polls on Election Day in every state. In some states, there is no reason required for absentee voting, and voters have the option to vote by absentee ballot or to vote before Election Day.

Providing information about early and absentee voting to the low-income individuals you serve is a great way to help increase voter turnout. NLIHC’s Our Homes, Our Votes project has a fillable checklist to help you plan your work around absentee and early voting.

For early voting, consider holding ballot parties where voters gather to vote as a group, perhaps after a discussion of affordable housing issues.

Participate in Homeless Persons Memorial Day Vigil – attend the vigil and help remember our neighbors who died due to lack of housing and supportive services;

Engage – talk to your family, your neighbors, your co-workers and elected officials about homelessness in Union County and how we need to work together to end homelessness. To achieve that goal, we need to change the conversation and focus on the needs of our neighbors; and

Form a homeless ministry - Begin discussions that focus on what more your congregation can do to end homelessness.